Girl bands need to capture the attention of fans in a foreign market so it is essential to bare more skin,” said Kim Won, an expert in Korean entertainment and culture. “But a sexy concept has its limitations and singers must show a unique talent to stay competitive.

Girls’ Generation at the Busan film fest, sans pole –you can decide the lesser of two ‘innocents’.

The article cites several instances, such as the Girls’ Generation, “who appeal to fans in Korea with their innocent image,” performing a pole dance in Japan wearing outfits that look like lingerie.

The article also mentions T-Ara (pictured above) making the lingerie play to for the Japanese market. And you thought that ‘Easter in the Saloon’ look died out with the old west didn’t ya?

In fact, according to my limited research on the Interweb, much of the article seems spurious in its contrasts.

So those of you considering booking flights to Japan out of worry you can’t catch the provocative version of K-pop here on the peninsula, worry not –there is really no big difference from what’s happening on stages in the ROK.

The thing is, K-Pop is based on being provocative both in Korea and abroad. Sure, there’s great choreography, good voices and catchy tunes, but in the end it’s all about the appearance of the girls that are dancing, singing and performing and what they are wearing while doing it.

This is not some form of fine art for disgruntled neighbors (on both sides) to pick at and draw nuanced contrasts on. I can just see Michelangelo now, dishing comments to a reporter: “That damned DaVinci is showing more skin in his paintings! I’ll make a nude statue and show him who’s provocative!”

T-ara performing recently in Japan. Apparently there is video of some Japanese fans laughing at the girl 3rd from the left for having trouble rising from the “sexy squat dance.” Some nationalist netizens went nuts. Yeah.